Condenser system.



L. R. ALBBRGER.

GONDBNSER SYSTEM.

APLIOATION TILBD NOVA 6, 1908.y

Patented Non 22, 19.10.

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touren. ALBEBGER, Ior GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCR 'ro nnnnnenn CON- nENsnn COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten Nov. sa, 1ero.

Application ,led November 6, 1908. Serial No. 461,374.

`apparatus for the condensation of steam and the maintenance of a vacuum, and it relates 'more especially to that class of condenser systems wherein a jet condenser is `employed and a centrifugal pump utilized for the purpose of removing the condensing Water and the i'vater of condensation. My invention is conceived broadly, however, and is applica.- ble to other forms of condensers and other combinations thereof, and is novelland useful when contemplated wholly apart from ythe condensing function, the invention in that-.case residing solely in the pumping mechanism and serving many useful purposes, While operating in that capacity especially in so far as the disposal of the air is concerned,

l said pumping mechanism therefore perform- .4 steam, said air removal taking place With` ing the function of the vacuum pump as well as doing its other'duty.

One particular type of centrifugal condenser to which my .present improvements primarily relate is shown and described in my co-pending application for Letters Patent upon improvements in condensing apparatus7 tiled June 24, 1905, Serial No. 266,886. In that application the Water used to produce the condensation of exhaust steam in a jetcondenser, as also the Vater of condensation, isl removed by a centrifugal pump, While the air is Withdrawn by a separate dry vacuum pump.

vThe object of the present invention is to dispense entirely with the dry facuum pump, and to provide for the removal of the air remaining after the condensation of the the Water as the latter passes out from the condenser through the agency of the centrifugal removal pump.

Hitherto it. has been found diflicult and in practice virtually impossible to so entangle or combine the air With the Water iu a jet condenser as to completelyv and efed certain new and useful Improvements in.

fectually remove it through the agency of a centrifugal removal pump and to maintain at Ithe same time in a dependable manner the high degree of vacuum now required. This is due to the very large volume that this highly attenuated air occupies and also to the low velocity of the Water leaving the condensing chamber.; Both of these conditions are brought about by this high vacuum of7 say, one pound. or less absolute pressure which is sought to be maintained in the condenser.. To attempt to increase the velocity of the Water leaving the condensing chamber by restricting the passage or reducing the' capacity of the chamber would reduce its condensing efficiency, besides at the same time endangering the safety of the apparatus with which the condenser is employed by modifying the free exit of the Water.

In the use of centrifugal Condensers of appropriate design, it has been found that when a separate dry vacuum pump is not used the air will be entangled in the con 4densation Water and when the leakage 1s small avacuum as high as about three pounds absolute pressure per square inch will be maintained. The reason that this vacuum is obtained is due to thefact that the volume of the air under such a pressure is not so great but that the Water can carry it off in a commingled condition under the velocity head Which is imparted to the water when it passes from a three pound absolute pressure inuence to the suction of the pump.`

But an absolute pressure of three pounds is not satisfactory for present high vacuum practice, at least one pound being demanded. Air under one pound absolute pressure has a volume three times that of air under three pounds absolute pressure, and the velocity head of the Water from the condenser can only be that due to the difference in pressure between that. in the condenser andv the suction of the pump, namely, one pound. It will thus be seen that the problem to be met is tocarry' ott threetimes the volume of air with a very much reduced velocity hea-d of the Water. V

In carrying my invention into practical effect. l providea centrifugal removal pump built in such a manner as to secure an initial or preliminary pumping effect which will increase the velocity of the water Which is being Withdrawn from the condenser chamber, this watex-.fheing delivered tov the main discharge impeller which pum s it out into thelatinosphere: the pump mec anism being' thus'fin two, sectiov or in some sort of a plural or multiplelpumping combination, one part discharging into the other and the last part discharging into the atmosphere;v

and in combination" therewith I arrange means whereby the attenuated air which is withdrawn from the condensing chamber.

may be combined with the current of flowing Water and thereby compressed; this en. tanglement or union of the air with ,the water being made to occur at a point between the preliminary impeller and the discharge impeller or between they two vparts of the removal ump, or the two sections ofwhatever plura` umping'a ency maybe utilized in the wit drawal of t e water from the condenser. The construction is such at `the point where the air is introduced to thepum'ping mechanism in the carrying out of m invention that the velocity, of the water will be high, having this high velocity from the first impeller, and will' e under a pressure which while above that in the condensing chamber is not as great as the final discharge pressure which is usually atmosphe wate after it leaves the first im eller in passing the airladmitti-ng orifices w1 l induce a flow of the air and compress and carry it A with the water into the inlet of the second y outside of thecondenser, the required in pump or the second art ofa pluralpumping mechanism wit the resulting effect which II shall ultyvset forth.

4- The essence of theV invention is therefore to impart-'to the water from a' source of power creased velocity 'which is necessary to supplement the low velocity of,the water, respecting which low velocity objection exists as above intimated, and to compress the air unde'r one pound absolute pressureto three or more pounds absolute ressure :before it is delivered to the remova pump or Vto that part of a plural pumping agency which is' to e considered as the removal or, discharge part; and in so increasing the velocity of the water before it is taken by the discharge impeller and in causing the faster flowing water to inductively absorb and compress within it the large volume of air taken from the'c'orser, lI lace the removal pump under the ame con itions of operation as when a three pound vacuum is being maintained in the condenser which I have above indi` cated' allows a successful entanglement of air with the condensation water, although I actually obtain the desired vacuum of one pound in the condenser in a very simple and effective manner. I The invention therefore consists essentially in the construction, combination and arrangement of-the various parts substan-- I so that 'the inductive action of the p opening impeller tially as will be hereinafterv described and claimed In` statin definitely the various pressures existingf it is `to be understood that they are only relative and for the purpose of clear descr tion.`

4In t e accompanying drawing1 illustrating my invention, a single figure is presented, the same being a side elevation of my improved condensing apparatus with a delineationin cross section of the pumpingv appliances for the withdrawal of the condensing water and the water of condensation.

In order to illustrate the practical appli- Y cation and working of my invention, I have represented in tlie drawing a form or type of jet condenser, offering the same simply as a sin le specimen or example with no idea of being restricted thereto, and-reserving the libert-y of employing the-invention with any kind .ofa condenser with whichit is foli'nd serviceable,and also of utilizing the pump- 'ingappliances if desired separately from a condensersystem. In thisV specimen type, 1 denotes-the main condensing chamber having may be transferred to the condenser to be The up er Aused forL condensing purposes. part of the shell i1," ispreferably provi ed with some suitable. air cooling construction 19 having an outlet 3 from which an air pipe 12 leads to 'the/ pumping mechanism, a's I shall presently more fully relate. A,

The discharge pipe 5 from the cdndenser connects with the inlet 20 of a pumping 'mechanism., preferably situated close to the condenser, One'part of this mechanism has a casing 6"and an impeller 8.v The latter is carried ona horizontal shaft 16 of a steam en ine or othenmotor 15, the latter being in icated herein sim ly by way of example. The impeller 8 of t lis first centrifugal device delivers water into a curved-passa c, 13

which leadsaround to the inlet 21 o i the .main'removal centrifugal or'turbine .pump

liaving'a casing? withinkwyhich is the main 11 which discharges .into an 'outlet passage 0 presentas it were, two centrifugal or tur bine pumps or two sections of a singlpumping mechanisni,-'said having the function o the conical lower portion 18' connecting with c 14. Thus in the present example, t. f

fpumping mechanism f removing. the water from the condenser, one part of the mechanism vaccelerating the flow fof thd removalflao water and then discharging into the other; and it is evident that the construction ot the pumping mechanism may he modified in a. great variety ot ways.

Alongside of the casi-ng 6, and surrounding the inlet 2() and also the connection ot' the discharge pipe 5 to said inlet 20. is an ammlar passage 0, with which the air delivery pipe l2 connects so that the air that passes away from the top ot the condenser through the air cooler and out through the eduction opening 3 into the pipe l2 is conveyed through the latter to the annular passage S). This annular passage is provided with a perfoi-ation. slit, orifice` or small opening, or,

series ot same, l0 extending around the cirw cular 4side ot saidV passage, and these oritices or openings l0 allow air to pass from the annularpassage l) into the water passage 13. Said oritices are therefore so placed in relation to the water passage 13 thatthe water traveling from the impeller 8 through Said passagel 1?. and accelerated in its movement. by said impeller S, will actv by an inductive action to Withdraw the air in the annular ring 9 through the orifices 10 and compress; and mix it with the 'n.l'er. The air thus mixed with the water in the passage 18` is carried on through said passage 13 to the ,inlet '21 of the impeller 1l, where thi vair in the mixture is compressed by the action of the impellei' l1 and the mixture finally diss charged by said impeller 11 into the discharge passage-14. which latter may he connectecl hy suitable piping' with the waste water tunnel or any convenient point out- .side ot' the condenser.

"Il he construction which 'am describing is of such a nature that at'thepoint where the air outlet oritices arelocated the velocity of the water is quite high and under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, so that the. inductive action of the water passing the orifices would readily cause a Iflow ot the airund carry the same into the water. thoroughly commingrling' it therewith and comp pre 1111,;Y it. so that when it reaches the second impeller the latter may exert a still further compressing' action upon .the air and contribute to a more thorough interminjfling ot the air and water. and finally deliver lthem to the atmosphere, The difference in absolute pressure between the air in the condens ing chamber and thewaler in the inlet` ot' the second pump is considerably less than the difference hetwcen the pressure olI the air in the condensing,chamber and the almosphere. and consequently a greater elii'ciency and capacity will he obtained in the inductive action of the water upon the air than it VVthe attempt were made to withdraw the air from the condensing` chamber and directly dischargeit tothe atmosphere. The coinpression of the air in the former case heini?, say, three volumes and'in the latter case tit-v teen volumes. Thus it will he seen that l impart to the water when it is withdrawn from the condenser chamber a velocity by means` of a preliminary impeller. The air is then brought into intimate contact lwith the swittlv' movin i water and is compressed thereliv in consequence of the change ot the' already been stated. with a separate air` pump, and am enabling' the removal pump to not only 'ithdraw the condensing water and thewvatenot' condensation. but to remove the air also, andfin .doing so. although. l add another stage lo the 'removal pump, .or employ. another impcller -than is ordinarily required in a centrifugal condenser, yet` this is a much simpler and economical thing to do than to use a separate air or vacuum pump.

It is manifest that in modifying' the construction of pin'nping mechanism. the annular ring 9 may he made single. as in the present oase, or of a muitiple hind. and it may he variously applied and fitted in connection with the water passage into which the first impeller delivers. I there/tore reserve the liberty ofmaking such changes :is may he Jfound necessary to he-:t adapt the invention for use'in various locations. and with many dilierent kinds ot mechanism.

lleiietofoi'e there have been many attempls made to imparta velocity to the water b v thercnioval iinpellcr ot' a centrifugal. pump.

.the velocitvso imparted being;` so j i'reatas to withdraw theair t'rom the condeiiising' chain-l her under one pound pressurl and discharge it to'lhe atmosphere under litieen pounds pressure. Ot course this involves a compression ot fifteen volumes and calls tor a very high velocity head. rlhe result is an expensive machine whichis wastet'ul in the use of power.l .\ccordiuf' to my present Vinvention. however. the vehieity head rialuired' is only that needed to willnlraw the air trom one pound pressure and compress it to three or four pounds pressure as the case may be.. lThis pressure head which :s pnl' upon the inlet ot' the main removal portion olt the pump. that containing the-main or discharge impeller. assists said impeller in its work ot' discharging' against the almosphere so that the power required to produce this resultl is conserved to the greatest possible, extent'.

It. ymust he remembered that m causing the 30 means for commingling the air at pracwithdrawal of air b Vcontact with water in motion, that the e ciency decreases very rapidly as the difference between the terminal pressures increases; consequently in the operation of an inductive jet or other similar device, the differences between thc initial and terminal pressures should be kept as low as possible to obtain etticient'results.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as new and desire to secure by Letj ters Patent, is:

1. Ina condenser system, inwhich the l air is removedrseparatelyr from the water,

the combination with a condenser, of a centrifugal or turbine pump for withdrawing water from th condenser, means for increasing the velocity of the How before the final discharge pumping takes place, means for commingling the air direct from the condenser with the accelerated water and compressingsaid air, and pumping means for discharging the mixture of air and water to the atmosphere.

2. In a condenser system, in which the air is removed separately from the water, the combination with a condenser, of a een- "trifugal or turbine pump for withdrawing water `from the condenser,A means for iiicreasing' the velocity of the flow before the final discharge pumping takes place, and

of its flow, and that which acts finally on theV water pumping the combined air and water, and means whereby air is withdrawn from the condenser by the flowing water between the impellers.

4. In a condenser'systein, -in which the water is removed separately from the air, the combination with a condenser, of a centrifugal or turbine pump for removing Kthe water from the condenser, said pump having Atwo or more impellers, one delivei'inl to the other, and means whereby 'air is withdrawn from the condenser by the. flowing water between the impellers to be commingled.

'therewith and compressed 'for the purpose of reducing its volume and allowing" it to be discharged to the atmosphere.

v 5. In a condenser system, in which thewater is removed separatel from the air. the combination with a con enser, of a centrifugal or turbine removal pump for the.

condensing Water and the water of condensation, said pump having a plurality ofl inicausing the latter to increase the Velocity of pellers, that which first acts on the water its How, and means whereby the accelerated I',

flow of water inductivelywithdraws air from the condenser and commingles it with the water between the impellers, so that said air may be com ressed and the combined air and water may e pumped by the other iin-` peller or impellrs.

6. rThe combination-with a jet condenser,

of a centrifugal or turbine pump foi-re- I moving the condensing water and the water of condensation, means for imparting to the outgoing water an increased velocity prior to the iinal pumping, means wherebythe accelerated flow of the water may inductively withdraw the air from the condensino chamber and combine it with the water and compress it, and final pumping means forv further combinin and com ressin the air and the water. an for -enab ing a ischarge to be effected. i p

7 In an apparatus for removing theh condensing water and the water of condensation from a jet condenser, the combination with the condenser, of means for first 4pum ,ing the outgoing water for the purpose o increasing the velocity of its flow, means for removing the air from the condenser separately from the water and causing the accelerated flow of water to inductivelycollect said air for the purpose ofcombining it Iwith the water and compressing it, an

means for pumping the mixture of air and water for the purpose of finally discharging the same.

8. In an apparatus for removing thecon- (lensing water and the water of condensation from a condenser, the combination with the condenser, of means for accelerating the flow of the outgoing water, means for causf ing said accelerated iow to inductively withdraw the air from the condenser, and means for pumping the mixture of air and water.

of a plural pumping mechanism vhaving two or more impellers, that which 'first' actson.

the outgoing water 'serving to accelerate',its

velocity, and means com rising a v.circular seriesl of orifices alongsi' e of the acceler- 11o 9. The combination with a jet-condenser,`

ini

to which it is delivered. `j-

10. The combination with ajv et condenser,l of a" plural pumpingniechanism'having two or more ,impellers, thatwhichfirst acts on the 'outgoing waterserving to accelerate its velocity, an

openings alongsi. Veoithe acceleratedwater.

mea s including an vopening or f tween said ori ces and the condenser `for re;` Q. moving the 'air from the latter, all, arranged' so vthat 'the How of4 the water .past said 'ori Hees will i'nductively' collect theair and com. 5 i; bine" and compr@V it with the water priortol the action of.- theother impeller or 'impellers v celerated` to enable the air to be compressed,

-o eninfr or o )eninos andthe r'onrleiiser for v means for withdrawing the condensing water andthe wat-er of condensation, means together with a connection between said removing air from 'the latter. all arranged so that the tiow ofthe water past said opening or openings will india-tively collect the air and combinel and compressit with the water prior to the action ot' the other impeller or impellers to which it is delivered.

11..'l`he combination with a jet condenser. of a plural pumping mechanism having two or nioe-impellers, that whiehtirst acts on the water serving t'o accelerateiils Velocity. and means comprising a passage .from `the condenser to a point alongside of thc accelerated water for renioving the air from the condenser, so that the flow of the water by said passage will inductively collect the air and combine and compress it with the water.

I2. In a condenser system, in which thewater is removed separately from the air, the combinationwitha jet. condenser, ofV

forfimparting to the outgoing water a rotary movement for the purpose of accelerating its flow and inductively drawing-the air from the condenser and combining it with the Water Whose iow has thus been acand means for pumping the mixture of air and water for the purpose of further compressing the air and commingling the air and water so aslto allow a Final Adischarge to the atmosphere.

13. The combination` with a jet condenser, of a centrifugal or turbine pumping mechanism for withdrawing the condensing water and the water of condensation, said mechanism `having a pair of impellersv` one of which imparts a preliminary o initial pumping action to-the water for the purpose of increasing its velocity, and the other of which tinally discharges to the atmosphere, and meansl for removing the air separately from the condenser and delivering it to the water after 'it leaves the initial impeller, said means including a circular series of openings through which the lair is inductively drawn by the swiftly moving current. of Water so as to enable said air to be'com- A i i 976,245

bined with the water and compressed thereby, after which thc mixture is finally dis-- which imparts a preliminary or initial pumping action to the water for the purpose ot increasing its velocity, and the other of which tinally discharges to the atmospherc` and means for removing the air sepa-4 rately from the condenser and delivering it to the wateraftcr it leaves the initial impeller, said means including a circular passage having a direct connection with the condenser thrm1gh which the air is inductively drawn by the swiftly moving current of water so as to enable said air to be combined with the water and compressed thereby, after'which the mixture is finally discharged to the atmosphere.

\ 15. The combination with a jet condenser, of a centrifugal or turbine pumping mechanismy for withdrawing the condensing water and the water of condensation, said mechanismhaving a pair -of impellers, one of which imparts a preliminary or initial pumping action to the water for the purpose of increasing' its Velocity, and the other of which inally discharges to the atmosphere,-

and means for 1'emoving`tlie air separately from the condenser and delivering it to the water after it leaves the initial impeller, said means including a passage leading di- .rectly from the condenser and provided with one or more openings adjacent to the water between the iinpellers through which the air is inductively drawn by the swiftly moving current of water so as to enable said air to be combined with the water and compressed thereby7 after which the mixture is finally discharged to the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS R. ALBlill'lGrEiH.I Vitnesses FREDERICK A. BRooKMmnn, FRANK lNILLIAMs. 

